Mary McNaughton-Cassill, PhD

But I think the words social distancing are steering us in the wrong direction. Were not really trying to create social distance from each other? Not exactly. No one is asking us to stop calling, texting, or Zooming our friends and relatives. We dont have to stop sending cards, letters, or even masks and tp through the mail, and we can still interact with the people we live with. We just need to stop sharing the viruses we carry, including the coronavirus that causes Covid-19.

I am just finishing up a 14-day self-isolation period, along with the other faculty and the 60 some students that were part of our Study Abroad program in Italy. Instead of spending Spring Break in Europe we are exchanging pictures, jokes, online toasts and movie recommendations. When this is all over, we plan to have a potluck dinner so we can try the Italian recipes we have been collecting. This isnt the way we wanted our trip to end, but friendships forged during stressful times can be particularly close and long-lasting.

So lets start calling this Physical Distancing, not Social Distancing. Touch isnt the only way we can connect with each other.

Why We Should Stop Calling it 'Social Distancing'

In the age of social media new words, phrases, and memes can take off in a matter of minutes. Suddenly we are all experts on the best type of face masks (N95 anyone) and are using words like self-isolation and social distancing to describe our efforts to stop the spread of a virus we didnt even know existed a few months ago.

Why You Should Stop Using the Phrase ‘Social Distancing’

After a 4-hour bus ride on a road that literally tunnels through mountains, we navigated the new normal of international travel; cancelled flights, masked TSA agents and the insidious fear that a border will close before you can cross it. Although there were no cases of virus in the town where we were studying, and we are all asymptomatic, our Study Abroad program was cancelled 5 weeks into a 13-week semester. We are now on our tenth day of monitored self-isolation in our homes.

Of course, we are hardly unique in the ranks of people whose lives have been upended by the coronavirus, and the priority right now has to be minimizing the spread of the virus and providing care for those who get it. However, the ramifications of this situation are already rippling across the world in political, economic, and psychological waves. As governments struggle to figure out what to do, beloved rituals including sporting events, parades, and even religious services are being cancelled and stock markets are swinging wildly, it is easy to feel that the world is collapsing around us. The clamoring voices in the media jockeying to gain our attention, arent helping.

So how can we maintain a modicum of perspective during this unprecedented event?

First and foremost, we need to focus on what we can control. We dont know who has the virus, or where it will spread. But we can wash our hands properly, get enough sleep, and be thoughtful about not sharing our germs with others.

We can also take this opportunity to learn more about immunology and epidemiology. I know from years of teaching a course on Psychology and Health that the average college student cant articulate the difference between bacteria or a virus, doesnt know what an antibody is or does, and hasnt gotten a flu shot. I suspect that most adults arent much different. Why dont we, as individuals, take more responsibility for understanding the science and research that literally impacts our survival? The internet is awash with videos and tutorials on both immunology and epidemiology. If you cant explain how a vaccine works, or why there is so much conflict about what the denominator of the COVID-19 lethality equation should be, it is time to start studying. Otherwise, you arent in a position to make educated decisions about this viral outbreak.

<h1> How do you know what information to trust? </h1>

That brings me to another concern. In an age when there is too much information, not too little, how can you figure out which information sources to trust? Fortunately, there are ways to improve your media literacy. Before you pass on a news story or viral clip, assess who created it, why they have chosen that particular message, how they framed and transmitted it, and how it might impact people with different viewpoints. A number of reputable sites online are dedicated to helping people educate themselves, and others, on how to be a responsible consumer in the age of the internet. We need to create a world where we are able to justify why we hold a particular opinion, and hesitant to be the person that shares false news.

<h1> How to cope in an out-of-control world </h1>

Finally, from a psychological point of view, we have to accept the fact that when we cant control the world around us, we can control our responses. This viral outbreak is scary, and particularly threatening to older people with pre-existing health conditions, or poor access to health care. The lack of scientifically informed policies and solutions is unsettling, and the disruption of our daily lives is disorienting.

But it is a temporary situation. We have evidence to suggest that 80% of the people who get this virus have mild symptoms. In China, where the outbreak started, infection rates are decreasing. Scientists are testing a variety of existing anti-viral and cancer treating drugs to see what will interfere with the replication of this viral strain. Vaccines are in the works.

In the meantime, we are all being given something rare in the modern world, a chance to slow down, and perhaps take a break from the frenzy of our daily lives. Have you been meaning to read a classic book, learn how to meditate or do yoga, or paint a bookcase? Going on calmly with our lives doesnt seem particularly dramatic, or heroic, but it is the most effective way to combat this panic pandemic.

Maintaining Perspective in Coronavirus Panic

As a Clinical Psychologist with a disaster stress management background I have experience scrambling to respond to the psychological needs of people affected by traumatic events. However, at 3:00 in the morning of March 2, as I joined a line of 60 Texas college students dragging their suitcases down a steep, deserted street in an isolated town in Italy, I found myself at the center of an unfolding, worldwide coronavirus disaster.

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Mary McNaughton-Cassill, PhD

Articles written by the author

Why You Should Stop Using the Phrase ‘Social Distancing’

Maintaining Perspective in Coronavirus Panic